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(No Model.)

B. T. PAYNE.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 307,581. Patented Nov. 4, 1884.

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ROBERT T. PAYNE, OF WARM SPRINGS, VIRGINIA.

.CAR COUPLlNG.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,581, dated Novemberis, 1884:.

Application filed April 3, 1884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT T. PAYNE, a citizen of the United States,residing at IVarm Springs, in the county of Bath and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar-Couplings; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to car-couplings; and it consists of a device bywhich the link is held in readiness for coupling, the cars coupledautomatically, and uncoupled bynieans of a suitable lever, and when thusuncoupled may be left in a condition to be buffed without coupling. Itis comprised, essentially, but of four parts-a suitably-formeddraw-head, a coupling-latch, a swinging block to hold the coupling-latchin position, and a lever to operate the swinging block. .It is adaptedto.

all classes of cars in which an open link may be used, and to links ofall lengths, by which more or less play may be given.

My improvement is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing position ofparts when the car is uncoupled; Fig. 2, a similar view showing theparts and the link in position when the car is coupled; and Fig. 3 is amodified form of latch.

In the drawings, A is a draw-head of the ordinary flared-mouthed form.It is provided with a slot, m, in which the link slides in its backwardmovement, and which is made deep enough to hold the link unsupported ina horizontal position for coupling.

13 is a coupling-latch pivoted to pin 0, and with its heaviest part infront of said pin. It is provided with a hook, d, and at the rear it isbeveled 'or inclined, as shown, to adapt it to engage with the curvedface of the swinging block.

D is a swinging block, pivoted on pin f, and provided with lever g. Theinner walls of the draw-head are cut out to correspond to the curvaturesof the latch andswingiug block and to admit of their operation.

7 H is a spring secured within a recess in the draw-head, and bearingupon a projection, i, formed on the back of the swinging (No model.)

block. This spring maybe dispensed with, as hereinafter stated but itsemployment is preferred.

L is an open link of the usual form.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the car is uncoupled,the latch stands as shown in Fig. 1, its head in the recess m in thebottom of the draw-head. WVhen the link enters the draw-head, it strikesthe latch at a point above the pin 0, forces the back of the latchagainst the front face of the swinging block, which is forced backwarduntil the rear point of the latch falls below the swinging block,whereupon the block, by its own weight, or by the action of the spring,falls forward over the rear end of the The latch to the position asshown in Fig. 2. swinging block, hung and swinging at its upperextremity, as shown, will, of its own weight, fall over therear end ofthe latch; but the spring is found useful in making the action of theswinging block quick and certain. To uncouple, the swinging block issimply moved backward by lever g, or any suitable lever arrangement maybe substituted therefor, whereupon the latch is drawn forward as thecars separate, and is left in position for coupling again. For buffingthe cars without coupling, the lever need only be left or fixed inposition to hold the swinging block free from the latch, and the link ofthe opposite car will strike the walls of the drawhead at the back ofslot m. WVhen the car is coupled, the latch and the holding-block arerelieved from pulling-strain, as the pressure exerted against the underside of the swinging block D forces it against the upper inside face ofthe draw-head strain on the latch. The holdingblock andtheir pivots thusrelieved, and the latch and lock being thus disconnected, these partsare less liable to break and to get out of order, and thus being hung toswing freely the coupling and uncoupling is effected with the greatestease and with very little friction and jar.

P is a modification of the latch B, and is provided with a deeper notch,S, the purpose of which is to prevent the end of the link from going asfar back into the drawhead, and thus insure closer coupling.

The usual pin and link may be used in connection with this coupling.

Having thus described my invention, what I strain exerted mainly on thedraw-head, and a IO claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, carbuffed without coupling, as herein set forth. is- In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in In a car-coupling, the draw-head provided presenceof two witnesses.

5 with the slot or recess m, in which the link is held for coupling, incombination with the piv- ROBT' PAYNE oted latch B, the swinging blockD, and the Witnesses:

lever, all arranged as described, whereby the J. B. DAVENPORT,

cars are automatically coupled, the pulling- F. A. HYDE.

